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Glite Dictionary
early mark

early mark

1 7.6
A permission to leave work or an event earlier than usual
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : salida anticipada
  • He was happy to have an early mark before the holiday weekend started.

Examples

  • The manager granted him an early mark today because he completed all his tasks ahead of schedule.

  • After finishing all her tasks, she was given an early mark from the office.

  • The coach announced that everyone would get an early mark if practice ended on time.

  • I got an early mark today!

  • Could I take an early mark tomorrow?

  • After working hard all week, she asked her boss for an early mark on Friday to enjoy the weekend.

  • When the event was running ahead of time, attendees were given the option to take an early mark and leave if they wanted.

How Early

early mark
  • UK
1 7.6
leave
  • Formal
148 4.2

Surface Forms

early mark singular
early marks plural

Morphology

early + mark

Although 'early' clearly signals something happening before the usual time, the word 'mark' does not transparently mean 'permission' or 'leave' in general English. The phrase functions as informal/workplace jargon where the permission-to-leave sense is idiomatic and not predictable from the constituent meanings, so a B1 learner who knows the parts would not reliably infer the overall meaning.

Etymology

The noun early mark may come from old school or work lists where a mark was put beside a name to show someone left before the usual time. That mark showed they had 'permission' to 'leave early', so early mark now means that chance or permission.